Happy Hump Day!

Prelude to a happy hump day...

Monday Author Interview with Lucy Felthouse!

We are happy to welcome the fantastic Lucy Felthouse to the couch this week. We love her stories and her FF are smokin’. But let’s get going with the interview!
Where are you from?

I'm from Derbyshire, in the UK. I was born in Derbyshire, though not the same place I'm living now, and have lived in the same house since I was a small baby. I'm a home girl, through and through!


Tell us your latest news?

I'm currently hard at work promoting my new release, LOOSE ENDS, which is my first release from Summerhouse Publishing. It's an erotic romance short story about two people who meet at a University reunion and are startled that even after all those years have passed, they still have feelings for one another.

Sounds exciting! Do you have a specific writing style?

I don't consciously have a 'style', I just write what comes naturally. I guess many of my stories have a fairly conversational tone with humour thrown in, but it just seems to be the way it flows out of me, or the way my characters talk.

What is your favorite character you’ve written (published or not)? Why?

I really like my character, Meg, from my Noble Romance release, BITE WITH HEIGHT. She's a vampire, and even for a vampire, she's a kick-ass chick. She turns typical on its head and was a really fun character to create. She and her new girlfriend, Grace, are currently nagging me to continue their story, which is why I have a research trip to Paris planned. I can't wait!

We’d love to go to Paris. So Lucky!! Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Tense! I'm not as bad as I used to be, but I often change tense without realizing it. It's often not until I read back through my completed work that I see what I've done and have a real *headdesk* moment. Sometimes I make my life even more difficult by including flashbacks or anecdotes in my work which make writing in past tense and past-past tense (if that makes sense!) a real challenge!v

Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?

I certainly don't have to. As much of my work is short, it's more character-led than description led. However, I'm often inspired by the places I visit and sometimes want to go back and do further research when I'm struck by an idea, hence my research trip to Paris.

Well, we never have to go anywhere per se, but travelling is so much fun! What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I like to read, watch TV shows, spend time with my other half, family and friends. I like to go walking and visiting historical properties and sites.

Boxers, briefs, boxerbriefs…. Or commando? Why?

It depends on the guy. A guy would have to have a certain look to pull off briefs, I think. If we're talking Jared Padalecki or Chris Hemsworth, anything is fine, or nothing. I really wouldn't mind either way. If we're talking 'real life' then boxers.

Depends on who has to to the laundry. What is your favorite animal?

I love dogs. I don't have one (yet) but I do love them. I just find them comical, cute and fun.

Have you ever cried during a movie? If yes, which one and why?

What? I have to name just one? I'm quite soppy when it comes to crying at films. Just a few that spring to mind are Dirty Dancing, Ghost, P.S. I Love You, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One, The Notebook.

Some great flicks there.  What is one thing scientists should invent?

A cure for cancer. I'm not going to get maudlin, it's not my style, but I've lost so many people to it that it's difficult not to resent it. And I know lots of people reading this will feel exactly the same, so let's keep hoping, eh?

Are you a morning person or a night person?

A night person, definitely. I very rarely want to get out of bed in the mornings, never mind what I'm doing that day.

Not much for getting out of bed in the morning myself. Guess that’s why we have the cabana boys! Do you like thunderstorms?

Nope, I'm a big old wimp. I don't scream or cry or anything, but they definitely freak me out, so expect to find me with my bedcovers pulled up to my chin!

Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke? If so, which do you prefer?

Yes, absolutely. Pepsi is sweeter, and Coke can leave a bit of a weird aftertaste in your mouth. I prefer Pepsi as I have a real sweet tooth.

Want to buy Lucy’s books? Here’s the links:
Bite with Height: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-bitewithheight-575237-139.html
Loose Ends: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-looseends-577310-149.html

Want to know a little bit more about her?
During Lucy’s first year studying Creative Writing at the University of Derby, she was dared to write an erotic story. It went down a storm and she's never looked back. Lucy has had stories published by Cleis Press, Noble Romance, Ravenous Romance, Summerhouse Publishing and Xcite Books. Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter. http://www.facebook.com/lucyfelthousewriter

Sunday Book Video ~ Sweet Irish Kiss by Joanne Kenrick

Shaun Bell, a divorced workaholic, spends all his time tending bar in his Irish Pub. He's ready to love again, but the women who visit his bar are only after his infamous Irish cocktails. At the advice of his darts team over a tanker or two of Beamish, he applies to 1Night Stand to get back into the swing of things and enjoy the company of a woman specially selected for him by Madame Evangeline.

Rachel Taylor has issues. Her father broke her mother’s heart with his cheating and Rachel swore never to let that happen to her, but one ruined relationship after another and she’s realized she's got to get over being closed off to men. Perhaps a one-night stand is just the baby step she needs to begin to build trust again.

A match seemingly made in heaven...until morning rolls around and Shaun can't bring himself to say good-bye. Can he win her over with his secret weapon, a Sweet Irish Kiss, or is Rachel still too scared to love?

http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=357&osCsid=a477ef73029a4cb96d786774a44adf5c
http://www.joannekenrick.com/2011/09/sweet-irish-kiss.html
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Want to see your book commercial here? Email us at menagerieauthors@gmail.com to find out how!

RANT!!! Those Black Friday Commericals!

Okay, I am not normally one to rant, but this really got on my nerves this year. The Black Friday commercials.

Commercials tend to be a source of humor for me. I loved the Nationwide commercials with Loren Wallace for the Nationwide Series for Nascar. Cracked me up. I could watch the Mayhem commercials until I'm blue. "I'm your blind spot" "I'm a hot jogger" "I'm a wind storm" Great stuff.

But this year's batch of Black Friday Commercials seriously drove me crazy. Why? Which ones?

The crazy target lady. Screaming at the ad because she's shocked at the good deals. I don't think I've ever screamed at an ad. Even when there's something I really want, I just circle and try to be there when it's available. Then she runs through the store...in heels. Um. Okay. So she wants to be in shape. Fine. But the last time someone ran in the store I was at, the person was trying to shoplift and run from the in-store cops.

Then there's the Kohls commercial. I'm a big advocate of do unto others as you'd have done to you. Why? Because. I have a child. Do I want him to go through a store, singing, and take things out of other people's carts? NO. Why? It's not courteous or polite and I'm sure they don't want it done to them. Oh and the big reason, IMHO?

Because it's TACKY.

I understand there is stuff you absolutely want. I get that people are willing to go to crazy lengths to get those things. I even kind of understand the need to sit outside a store for five days to be first in line.

We teach our kids not to cut in line, but on Black Friday it's okay? I'm sorry. It's still not okay. Shove elders? Still not okay.

Go do your shopping. Have a good time, but keep this in mind. The world won't end because you don't have a tablet, smart phone or whatever. And if your idea of having a great holiday means being a jerk to someone else, then it would appear you've lost the idea of the season. Tis better to give than receive. Tis better to have the spirit of brotherly love and kindness towards men rather than acting like a spoiled brat because you have to have a certain electronic device.

I've probably made people mad. Probably stepped on some toes. But, I can guarantee, I'll still open doors for those who are older than me (even if older by only a few moments) or younger than me. I won't poach something out of your cart. If I didn't act fast enough and get it from the display, then tough titties to me.

But that's just me.

Am I wrong to be irked with these commercials? I'm always willing to talk about it. Let me know.

Happy Hump Day!

Smart. They used a sheet.

Monday Author Interview with Sam Crescent

This week we’d like to welcome our dear friend Sam Crescent on to the couch. She’s a fellow Total-E-Bound author and well, we love her work. But hey, let’s get down to the interview. That’s what we’re here for! Grin.
Where are you from?
I’m from a very small country known as the United Kingdom. It maybe small but I can find many sources of inspiration and ideas for writing my books.
Awesome. Tell us your latest news?
My latest work, Tempting Research, was accepted for the Claw Marks anthology by Rebel Ink Press. This anthology will feature so many wonderful Rebel Ink writers and I’m so pleased to be given a part amongst such talent.

My first story, in a rough six part series was accepted and contracted by Total-E-Bound and now I’m working like crazy on the second.



Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Not massive experiences but Raven in Clifford Arbor, can’t make toast, she is always burning the stuff. Guess what? So do I. I can bake and cook and have some great responses to my cooking. Toast? Not a chance.


Hey, write what you know.  What are your current projects?
I have a load of second books to write. I’m writing book two as part of my vampire/ werewolf series with Total-e-bound. I’m also writing the second book to Clifford Arbor.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I guess it started with unhappy endings in films and I would find myself spending way too much time analyzing the ending and then it would develop to what I hated and that would change. Then before I knew it I was coming up with whole new ideas and writing them down in a note book. A dear friend then suggested to me, with the amount I read, maybe I should start writing. After a lot of humming and arghing I did and now after three years, I’m here :-)
Sometimes the arghing is all it takes, and the nudge from a good friend. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
I always struggle with the edits. I have this obsessive nature which means I have to learn all of my mistakes and sometimes I don’t understand completely what I need to do. Edits are a real problem and for me take the most time. At the end of the day they are really worth it. I always want my story to be the best it can be.


Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
To allow it all to come naturally. No matter how many words I wanted to write on the day, I couldn’t force them. I would try and write the word count I set myself on the day and if I really wasn’t with my characters or my story, I would have to scrap the words the next day. So for me just relax and take it as it comes. Since doing this, my word count has increased and I can write so much more.
Too true. Do you have any advice for other writers?
I never feel qualified writing an answer to this but as an aspiring writer I always was searching for some key or some magical advice. The real advice I would say is start talking to authors, go into yahoo groups, not to stalk or anything but to talk to them about writing. I started talking with a wonderful writer and a lovely person and she really helped me to understand this craziness better. The other piece, would be to understand that no matter how many rejections you get to keep on writing. The final bit of advice, I think I received my fifth rejection and then I thought, what the hell, and I sent them an email asking if they could provide any feedback. Their feedback was wonderful. It stopped me feeling like a useless writer and made me realize with a lot of hard work I could achieve this.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Thank you so much for reading my first ever story and for all your kind words. I hope you’ll like my other work I have coming out and all the new plots I’m developing. I look forward to this amazing journey with all of you.

Cool! How long does it take you to write a book?
This differs. For instance I just received a contract with Total-E-Bound for a paranormal vampire book. This is the first one in the series and I’m currently writing the second. It took me around a month to completely understand my characters and what I wanted to do. I did all the planning while working on two other books. When I had nothing other to worry me and my slate was clear so to speak, I managed to get the main story wrote within two weeks and then I spent another week, adding and taking elements away and then I spent another week reading it through before sending it off for submission. Office Hours took me over three months to write and then over a year to get to a standard that meant it got accepted.

I find with every acceptance I get a bit more confident with my writing and I’m not spending time over every paragraph thinking it is useless and awful.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
So far I have 7 books in total, 6 are under contract. I will always have a love and fondness for Office Hours as it was my first book accepted and published. A Wild Older woman is the first story my sister truly believed I could write. She loves this story and that is scheduled for a September 30th release through Secret cravings publishing. Clifford Arbor: The Seduction of Raven Peters, is the book with a lot of firsts for me. It was my first m/m relationship, it was my first longest book, It was my first menage and it was also my first story where I created the town Clifford Arbor in my own head.

My next book is about vampires and werewolves and I have somewhat of a guilty pleasure when it comes to these and I love the fact I created a series and a world all for me and hopefully a world my readers will love.

Now for some fun questions. What animal do you think makes the best pet and why?
Dogs, they are cute and fluffy.
Do you hate how you look in pictures? Why or why not?
Yes, I do. I hate having my picture taken but I imagine with the progression of my writing I’ll have to splurge out soon and go before the dreaded thing.

Boxers, briefs, boxerbriefs…. Or commando? Why?
Boxers definitely. They just seem hot on a guy. And commando, it makes my writing so much easier *wink*

You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?
French class and puberty. Don’t ask !!!
When you looked in the mirror this morning, what was the first thing you thought?
Ahh, serious bed hair.
What were you doing at midnight last night?
Falling asleep on my keyboard. Edits are awful, don’t you think?

Have you ever eaten a crayon?

As a kid I imagine there wasn’t anything that didn’t go in my mouth :-)

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Squid, just give me a moment to shudder...no wait Tofu, I mean really what use is that blob of stuff. Eww.


What do you want to know about the future?
Nothing and that way I don’t have to panic or worry about anything. I’m quite happy to live everyday as it comes. It’s nice to turn round and say I wish I knew what happened but in truth, I’m happier not knowing what is to come.

Have you ever cried during a movie? If yes, which one and why?
All the time. I cried when Leo/ Jack died on the Titanic. I love that movie. Three times during the Green Mile. This will be a long list. Call me sensitive.

What is your favorite pizza?
A meat feast, why is there any other topping?

Are you a morning person or a night person?
With coffee, I’m any time of day person. I can do everything with coffee :-)
Do you like thunderstorms?
I like watching the lightening light up the sky. It is scary and beautiful.
Can you tie a cherry stem in a knot?
Absolutely not. Wouldn’t even try it.
Do you sleep with the light on? Why or why not?
No, I have darkness. I use to have to have a light on somewhere but that is because I have a wild imagination, which is why I don’t watch horror movies. I’m 100% romance and animation.

How many fingers am I holding up?
Erm...
Cyber searching, erm, three lol.

Terrible trick question, I know, but I love it. Want to know more about Sam?
Sam Crescent is passionate about fiction. She loves a good erotic romance and so it only made sense for her to spread her wings and start writing. She began writing in 2009 and finally got that first acceptance in 2011 by Total-E-Bound.
She loved creating new characters and delving into the worlds that she creates. When she’s not panicking about a story or arguing with a character, she can be found in her kitchen creating all kinds of havoc. Like her stories the creations in the kitchen can be just as dubious but sometimes things turn out great.

http://en-gb.facebook.com/people/Sam-Crescent/100002178529657
http://twitter.com/#!/SamCrescent
http://samcrescent.wordpress.com/

Office Hours:



Fiery red headed temptress Anya King is desperate for the carnal delights of a pleasure weekend. A chance to indulge in every sexual fantasy.

However...

Demanding sexy boss, Nathan Banks, has signed them both up for a “team-building” weekend, in the beautiful country town of Buxton.

Innocent weekend turns to hot, lusty sex. Enough to melt the snow outside and the ice around their hearts. Will the job she loves survive the weekend? And will their time be more than just a moment?

And the blurb for A Wild Older Woman

I don’t have a buy link for this yet.

Blurb:
Do younger men treat a woman better? At least that is what Karen Wild is to
find out what being a cougar is all about. She believed she could battle
anything that came her way...that is until Nick Marshall entered her life.

She never anticipated Nick, thirteen years her junior, being interested in her.
He’s hot and he wants Karen all to himself.
Join this cougar as she learns to accept her sexuality and finally learns what it
means to love and how a younger man can melt the years away.

Sunday Book Video ~ Rock You Like a Hurricane by JoAnne Kenrick

[Siren Classic: Erotic Contemporary Romance, public exhibition, wax play]

It's 1989 and Ryker Conall, American rock star and heartbreaker, is looking all kinds of Bon Jovi hot. He’s back in Australia and staying in the exclusive Darling Harbour Hotel where Sadie Fox works. His plans include more than rocking it down under. He also wants to rekindle what he had with Sadie back in ‘85. But wanting and getting are two different things.

Sadie’s objective is to get through the week without getting under Ryker. Getting over him was hard the first time around. She’s not sure she could do it a second. Just one week, that’s all, then she’s home free.

When a hurricane moves in, they have to wait it out. It might be a big hotel, but Sadie can’t hide from Ryker forever. It’s not long before Sadie is backed into a corner. A corner she is not sure she wants to get out of.

http://www.joannekenrick.com/
http://www.bookstrand.com/rock-you-like-a-hurricane

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Want to see your book commercial here? Email us at menagerieauthors@gmail.com to find out how!

I Wanted to Post Something Fun...

I don't have a lot today. But this is my favorite part of this movie:



Enjoy!

Happy Hump Day!

Peeker!

Monday Author Interview with Jan Irving

This week we have a dear friend of mine and fellow Total-E-Bound author, Jan Irving on the couch. Welcome Jan! We’re so glad you could be here. Why don’t we get started? Do you have a specific writing style?

I can write in different voices. What I usually do is decide what emotion I want to channel. Do I want to laugh and experience a light hearted book or do I need to write something that feels deeper? And then a story that feels like a good vehicle comes from that basic seed feeling. It might be m/m or m/f or ménage, it might be “I” voice or third person. It might be contemporary or historical. When I do a series, such as Uncommon Cowboys, I have a familiar feeling that comes through the books, so if you like one, likely you will enjoy another.


Cool! I can’t wait to get my hands on them. Speaking of theme, is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

With my series Uncommon Cowboys the theme of forgiveness, balance and finding love are in all the stories. One of my readers pointed out that all the heroes in that series have to go through a healing process. It’s very strong in a book like Wounded Cowboy.

That’s very cool. All the books are on my TBR list. Speaking of the books, are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

At the moment I’m writing a cowboy story set in Italy, so fragments of a trip are coming up, kind of like when you dig pebbles up from under clear water on a beach. Some attract your eye that you might not see if they weren’t shiny and sparkling. I’m never quite sure what bit of detail will come into play. It’s like taking a trip all over again with my heroes.

I feel totally immersed in my stories when I’m writing, so I get you. What are your current projects?

I’m working on a new Uncommon Cowboys book set in Italy and I’m also playing with a new book that came to me because I was craving something light and frothy, like a summer beer. It’s called The Viking in My Bed, and it’s about a young college student who wakes up with—you guessed it—a Viking in his bed.

Sounds exciting. I can’t wait to read it. Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?

Travel opens the mind and takes you out of your rut into new experiences. It’s not always comfortable but I feel better for doing it. Looking at a broken Roman column or a Greek temple will somehow seed itself in you and come out at some unexpected time.

Great way to put that. What animal do you think makes the best pet and why?

I have a dog named Cadfael. He does what I call ‘twirlies’ where he will spin on his leash if something walks or drives by he doesn’t like. He’s a Sheltie so he’s naturally a guardian. Since he’s so small this is sometimes funny. He sees himself as mighty.

I’ll bet he’s adorable, too. Are you a morning person or a night person?

Naturally a morning person. I’m not sure if it’s because my sign is Aries, the first sign in the zodiac. I try to do my writing in the morning if possible since I’m at my best, clear and focused. I tend to prefer doing things like yoga in the evening.

Sounds like fun. Do you like thunderstorms?

I love thunderstorms. I experienced one in the middle of Turkey once when I took shelter in an ancient Roman bake house. The lightning was striking all around us and the rain came down like we’d be different people after being washed under it. It was exhilarating.

Cool! If you could wish for anything, what would you wish for?

I’m thinking of writing some challenging things in future, so I’d like some clarity. When I practice yoga, I also practice asking the universe for help in some aspect of my life. I might ask for abundance if I have a lot of bills, or I might ask for support if I am dealing with something difficult. It really works, it’s amazing!

Uncommon Cowboys Book Four.

Book four in the Uncommon Cowboys Series


When Charlie Danvers finds Luka, a beautiful scarred man with silken black hair and feral green eyes, naked and freezing in an April snowstorm, he takes him home to his lonely cabin, unaware the man who can’t sleep in a bed or use cutlery is far more than he seems.

Luka is dying. He survived captivity and abuse from the brutal pack that killed his family, holding out because of dreams of a man with big, gentle hands. When Charlie Danvers finds a beautiful scarred man with long silken black hair and feral green eyes, naked and freezing in an April snowstorm, he takes him home to his lonely cabin and will do anything to heal him.

At first, Luka is afraid, even of Charlie. He has nightmares and can’t sleep in a bed like a normal person and he can’t even figure out how to use a knife and fork at Charlie’s table. But Charlie’s patience is rewarded as Luka slowly comes out of his shattered pain, helping Charlie take care of the other wounded creatures on his nature reserve.

Now that we’ve captured you with the blurb for Wounded Cowboy, I know you want to know more about Jan Irving. Well, here’s more:

I've always been a super creative person, from painting silk to making porcelain ceramics, to interior design, but writing is my passion. My perfect day I'm writing a chapter and also painting a yoga mat or dyeing silk with marigolds. I knit, I garden, I study ceramics.

My website is here: www.janirvingwrites.com

Sunday Book Videos ~ Just Gotta Say by Laura Kaye

When Callie Davis stumbles upon two of her three male roommates in a surprising, molten-hot midnight tryst, she discovers a side of herself she never knew existed. Desire to play with them grips her, and she can’t stop fantasizing about having multiple men, particularly her three long-time best friends.

Callie is thrilled when a guys’ night out gives her the perfect opportunity to recreate her fantasy—with the help of a threesome porn video and a bag of sex toys. That is until Lucas, Jack, and Noah return early and catch her in the act. More than anything, the guys want to make her fantasy come true. But Callie has a secret, and she can’t help wondering if being with all three men will risk the future she’s always wanted with one of them.

As three strong sets of hands caress and undress her, Callie surrenders to desire, because sometimes you just gotta say…yes.

Buy: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=356&osCsid=a16c478bef96fd1dda135ca957a5c0f3
Website: http://www.LauraKayeAuthor.com
Blog: http://laurakayeauthor.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/laurakayeauthor
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/laurakayeauthor

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Want to see your book commercial here? Email us at menagerieauthors@gmail.com to find out how!

RELEASE DAY!!!

Thought I'd share with everyone, yeah, I'm a little late, but better late than never, my newest release: Under and Over It. It's my very first MM story and I'm both excited and scared to see what the reader verdict is.

Here's the blurb:

Rock hero Camryn Tate makes the girls scream, but his roommate, Regan, holds the key to his heart.

What happens when an artist finds his muse? Regan Finley's photography makes the local music scene shine. He's four months from his final exhibition and graduation with a Masters in Fine Art Photography. But instead of preparing for the party, he's fretting about his exhibition theme--bondage and passion. There's one person he wants to make his exhibition come to life, if he can convince his housemate to participate.

Camryn Tate plays the music that makes the young girls scream. He likes being a local rock hero. His time on campus is coming to a close as well. In four months time, he'll have earned his Bachelor's of Music degree in composition. The moment he finds out what Regan wants to do for the exhibition Cam has to make a decision. He can let Regan have his commanding way and get the pictures he needs for the exhibition or he could walk away from the best roommate and friend he's ever known... all because of a little ball of nylon rope.

I hope you enjoy and let me know if you do!

Happy Hump Day!

And so flexible, too....

Guest Blog: Jami Gray

For the first Guest Blog on Menagerie Authors, we'd like to welcome Jami Gray. Take it away Jami!Thanks for having me. I love the leopard print on your couch!

Where are you from?
The Southwest, where summer is a year -long event. I’ve made a few forays to the northwest, but the fact that mold would grow in the strangest places, the roads are planned around trees and gray seems to a central color palette has kept me under sunnier skies. The only drawback is the amount I invest in sun screen since my Irish/Scot genes have chosen fluorescent as an acceptable skin tone.

Tell us your latest news…
My book, Shadow’s Edge is out November 1st from Black Opal Books. It’s the first in a planned Urban Fantasy series where magic exists in the real world. It follows our lethal heroine, Raine McCord, as she comes face to face with the demons of her past as she wades through a series of murders stalking the world of the Kyn. Of course, she’s not sure if she should drool or curse when she finds herself having to work with the extremely sexy and disturbing, Gavin Durand.

So is writing your only career?
I wish. It’s hard not to turn green when I hear of those other lucky authors who finally figure out the secret code of having their writing become their “job”. Unfortunately, I’m still trying to decipher the code, but I seem to get closer every year. *sigh* I telecommute for the “job-that-pays-the-bills”, and I have two monsters…I mean, boys…who torture…sorry…enrich my life. Plus a knight-in-muddy-armor and a hellhound, who resembles a small horse, but is mistaken for a lab.

What are the pros/cons of writing?
I have a type-A personality and the phrase “OCD” pops up occasionally. My critique group thinks it’s hilarious that with my personality I am actually a “panters”—I write by the seat of my pants. I’ve tried outlining, but it always turns into an epic fail. Instead , an idea or character spark and then they take over. Take Raine, for instance. The idea of magic existing in the real world, then that magic being exploited by government agencies, started my world building. As I created the world, bits and pieces of Raine started to peek out and then one day she was lounging at the opening of a dark alley I was skittering pass to get out of the damn rain in Portland. Talk about near death experience. She had a little chat with me, and when I could breathe again, she was in control. She’s not one to follow outlines.

I don’t suggest writing this way for the faint of heart. It’s a rocky, perilous road and you never see the yawning pit of hell until you’ve got one foot hovering over it.

Sounds dangerous…
Yeah but I love every minute of it. Writing is my form of therapy. Instead of paying someone to listen to my perceived issues, I just work them out with the voices in my head. At least on paper when I have to use lethal force as a solution, I don’t have to hit up friends for bail.

What are your hobbies…
I read, listen to music, mountain bike (okay not so much in a desert but rocky, sand bike then) and hang with my family, at least when I’m not writing, editing or promoting. I have two huge bookcases filled with writers I can only hope to someday be like. Don’t ask me for a favorite because it’s too hard to choose.

Who’s on your nightstand?
CE Murphy, JR Ward, Charlaine Harris, Katie MacAlister, Kerrelyn Sparks, Juliana Stone, Eileen Rendahl and Kelley Armstrong. That’s not counting the ones on my Kindle. I could go on. I’m a bit behind on my reading lately.

Who’s on your ipod?
Iphone, actually. *wiggles it in the air* The greatest invention…well almost. *winks* Let’s see, Bush, Nine Inch Nails, Nickleback, Adele, Foo Fighters, Shakira, Rhianna, Tori Amos, Depeche Mode….

Okay thanks, but I’m not sure we have enough time for the complete list.
Sorry, got a little carried away.

Oh hon, we get carried away all the time. Look at the cabana boys...yeah, it's a good carried away. Let’s get back on track…what were you doing at midnight?
Making mental lists in the dark. My mind tends to go into OCD overdrive at night.

Can you tie a cherry stem in a knot?
Nope, I’m a massive klutz, but I have friends who can!

Chocolate or vanilla?
Seriously, do you really have to ask….chocolate!


Where can you find Jami Gray?
Buy Link: www.BlackOpalBooks.com
Website: www.JamiGray.com
Blogs: www.7EvilDwarves.wordpress.com or www.JamiGray.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jamigray.author
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JamiGrayAuthor

Want to read more about Shadow’s Edge? Ta da!

It takes a monster to hunt one, and for Raine McCord, forged in the maelstrom of magic and science, she’s the one for the job. In a world where the supernatural live in a shadowy existence with the mundane, a series of disappearances and deaths threatens the secrecy of her kind and indicates someone knows the monsters are alive and kicking. Partnering up with the sexy and tantalizing Gavin Durand proves to be a challenge as dangerous as the prey she hunts.

When the trail points back to the foundation which warped Raine’s magic as a child, her torturous past raises its ugly head. Gavin and Raine sift through a maze of lies, murder and betrayal to discover not only each other, but the emerging threat to them and the entire magical community.

Want to know more about Jami Gray? Here you go:
Growing up on the Arizona-Mexico border, Jami Gray was adopted at the age of 14 and suddenly became the fifth eldest of 37 children. She graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s in Journalism and three minors-History, English, and Theater. Shortly after marrying her techie-geek hubby (who moonlighted as her best friend in high school) she completed a Masters in Organizational Management from University of Phoenix Oregon.

Now, years later, she’s back in the Southwest where she’s outnumbered in her own home by two Star Wars obsessed boys, one Star Wars obsessed husband, and an overly-friendly, 105-pound male lab. Writing is what saves her sanity.

Monday Author Interview ~ Gail Koger

This week we have Gail Koger on the couch. Welcome Gail. Why don’t we get started? When and why did you begin writing?


I was a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the Glendale Police Department and to keep from going totally bonkers – I mean people have no idea of what a real emergency is. Take this for an example: I answered, “9-1-1 emergency, what’s your emergency?” And this hysterical woman yelled, “My bird is in a tree.” Sometimes I really couldn’t help myself, so I said, “Birds have a tendency to do that, ma’am.” The woman screeched, “No! You don’t understand. My pet parakeet is in the tree. I’ve just got to get him down.” Like I said, not a clue. “I’m sorry ma’am, but we don’t get birds out of trees.” The woman then cried, “But… What about my husband? He’s up there, too.” See what I had to deal with? To keep from hitting myself repeatedly in the head with my phone, I took up writing.

I can see where that might be a little trying on a daily basis. Tell us your latest news.

The Nasty Vamp was just released by Whispers Publishing. All Bunny wanted was to be a normal, ordinary girl whose biggest worry was what to wear to her twenty-first birthday party. She needed for a few hours to forget about her mother’s murder and the monsters that inhabit the night. With all her heart Bunny wished for a little romance, for a man who could make her forget the bloodshed and death. Bunny longed for a prince charming who would sweep her off her feet and kiss her under the stars. Then fate kicked her in the teeth and granted her wish. Bunny’s perfect prince charming turned out to be a vampire.

Sounds great. What are your current projects?

I’m currently working on I Hear Voices another paranormal romance in the vein of Raiders of the Lost Ark meets Romancing the Stone. Zelda has just been laid off from her psychic gig and decides that finding Montezuma’s legendary treasure has to be easier than prying a check out of the state’s unemployment office. Her competition is a hunky, modern day Tomb Raider. Needless to say, sparks soon start flying.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Never, ever give up. I’ve got stacks and stacks of rejection letters. I think every writer has a drawer full. Don’t let them stop you. Persistence is the name of the game. Write what you love and you will be published. Once you’re published you have to market, market, market your work.

Yeah, we have boat loads of them, but it makes us all stronger. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

If I need to write a really hot sex scene I just go out in my backyard and wait. My neighbor and his current girlfriend are pretty frisky in the pool. Their screams get every dog in the neighborhood howling and I can pick up some pointers from their unusually athletic positions. No, I am not a Peeping Tom. It’s call research.

Research is research. What animal do you think makes the best pet and why?

Dogs of course. They’re love on four legs and no matter how bad your day has been they always greet you with a kiss. Hey, a girl’s got to get it somewhere.

Dogs are loyal. Do you hate how you look in pictures. Why?

Eww! All those wrinkles! I know I earned everyone of them, but yikes. Scary! And it’s little depressing when the men running shrieking in the opposite direction. Aw c’mon, I got a bag over my head, what more do they want?

Mine is the gray hairs, but I combated them with blue dye. If I’m going to go gray, I’m going blue. What is your strangest habit?

Talking to myself. It’s a dispatcher thing. Okay, it’s also a sign of insanity, but we won’t go there.

Nah. We’ve been known to talk to ourselves and to finish each other’s conversations. It’s creepy, but true. When you looked in the mirror this morning, what was the first thing you thought?

Eeeeek! Another wrinkle! Omigod! Is that a gray hair!?

Blue hairs!!! How many fingers am I holding up?

One. You do know that holding up the middle finger is kinda rude. Right?

Oh, you didn’t want her to do that? Sorry. Shrugs. Grin. Want to know more about The Nasty Vamp? Here’s the blurb:

All I wanted was to be a normal, ordinary girl whose biggest worry was what to wear to her twenty-first birthday party. I needed for a few hours to forget about my mother’s murder and the monsters that inhabit the night. With all my heart I wished for a little romance, for a man who could make me forget the bloodshed and death. I longed for a prince charming who would sweep me off my feet and kiss me under the stars. Then fate kicked me in the teeth and granted my wish.

My perfect prince charming turned out to be a vampire.

Want to find out more about Gail Koger?
Buy link: http://whispershome.com/erotic/the-nasty-vamp/

Website: www.gailkoger.com

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrI2eRVIOe8

Sunday Book Video ~ Blue Light Special by Mysti Holiday

Blue Light Special


When Karin Lattimer moves across the country and her over-protective brother asks his friend Caleb Hawkes to keep an eye on her, she’s more than annoyed…she’s turned on. The attentive cop is a walking wet dream, but Karin knows he’s only hanging around out of a sense of duty. Acting on her crazy attraction would reveal more than the man’s buff body—it would also reveal her heart.

Caleb is well aware that Karin is all woman. He can’t keep his eyes off her and his hands itch to touch her. But she’s not one-night-stand material, and he firmly believes cops make lousy partners for long-term relationships.

Still, thinking clearly isn’t a top priority when Karin and Caleb finally touch. Sparks fly and barriers melt away as easily as their inhibitions, but can she convince him there's more to life than playing it safe?

Available from the Wilder Roses!
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Posting Hot Guys Because I Can...

Thought I'd share some yumminess.







Enjoy!

Happy Hump Day!

Let's see just a little more...to the left...just a tick...